Contact

Matthew Toffolo: What is your Film Festival succeeding at doing for filmmakers?

Our main goal is to promote the independent filmmakers from all around the world. We love to screen films from different cultures and different backgrounds to our audience and we love to see how they react to them. For big chunks of time we accept submissions of films under no fees and when we charge fees, it’s only to transform them into prizes for the filmmakers. All in all, our main mission is to bring the films in front of our audience as easy as we possibly can, for both the filmmakers and the audience.

What would you expect to experience if you attend the festival this year (2017)?

Short Film Breaks is a special festival, because it’s the only festival taking place in private companies. That means that we are showing films to employees of private companies, right where they are working. As we like to say it, SHORT FILM BREAKS is the only film festival taking place in private companies, for an audience formed exclusively by employees, in a bid to offer smart break opportunities while promoting the independent movie industry around the world.

That means that to be able to attend the festival you’d need to be an employee of the companies that are our partners.

Do you think that some films really don’t get a fair shake from film festivals? And if so, why?

I couldn’t answer about other festivals. I am part of a Facebook group with many other festival organizers and we all take great care of the films we receive.

At Short Film Breaks, for example, we now have two selection phases. In phase one each film is watched by three judges and only the films with top ratings advance to the second phase. In the second phase, a committee made of four judges watch them and decide who is selected for our festival. That means that before being shows in the festival a film will be watched by seven different judges. And even the ones that do not get selected have been watched by at least three.

Starting with next year we plan to introduce the Extended Deadline. This will be the final deadline, with the highest fees, but all the films that are sent to us during this deadline will receive the judging forms.

What motivates you and your team to do this festival?

Seeing our audience enjoy the films we bring in front of them, discovering new filmmakers and films, those are the best parts of our job.

But something that can’t be compared with anything else is the projections we organized in the remote parts of Nepal and Indonesia. Witnessing your children, or even adults, watch a film for the first time in their life is the highest motivation one could ask for.

How has your FilmFreeway submission process been?

We totally love FilmFreeway. It’s the platform we started with, last year, when we received just a bit under 2000 submissions. This year we’ve received 2066 films on FilmFreeway alone. Even if we also joined FestHome and Reelport, we’re received over 90% of our submissions on FilmFreeway. Amazing!!

Where do you see the festival by 2020?

We’d love to have screenings in more and more companies, to reach a wider audience. And we’d also love to continue with the special events and screenings we’re organizing in remote parts of the world. We’re in discussions now to also hold screenings in the favelas in Rio.

What film have you seen the most times in your life?

Uhm… I don’t really watch the same film too often. Fight Club and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, each about 3-4 times. But I’ve watched in excess of 4000 films, many of them made before the 70’s, many from Europe, Asia, Latin America. Watching eclectic films, from different cultures and production years, that’s the goal.

In one sentence, what makes a great film?

A film that succeeds in conveying an emotion, or a film that succeeds in changing your perception about something you were taking for granted.

How is the film scene in your city?

We have a few film festivals in Bucharest, but not the biggest in Romania, TIFF, which is taking place in Cluj-Napoca. But we have the biggest film festival for short films here, NexT International Film Festival, a partner of ours, the festival we started our projections with, back in 2014.

There are a dozen cinemas, though not as many as we’d want them to be, especially as the most of them are multiplexes, inside the malls. For a city as big as Bucharest is, we could have more places where films are shown.

—-

Interviewer Matthew Toffolo is currently the CEO of the WILDsound FEEDBACK Film & Writing Festival. The festival that showcases 20-50 screenplay and story readings performed by professional actors every month. And the FEEDBACK Monthly Festival held in downtown Toronto, and Los Angeles at least 2 times a month. Go to www.wildsound.ca for more information and to submit your work to the festival.

The Latino Film Market 2017 (LFM) event focuses on providing community networking opportunities and creating direct tools for upcoming Latino filmmakers and industry professionals internationally. LFM takes place July 28 – 30, 2017, in collaboration with La Casa de la Herencia Cultural Puertorriqueña, a 37-year old, nonprofit, cultural organization, housed at El Barrio’s Artspace PS 109, in East Harlem, New York. LFM will engage participants from the USA, the Caribbean and other Latin American countries, with a potential participation of 500 – 600 individuals.

Contact

Matthew Toffolo: What is your Film Festival succeeding at doing for filmmakers?

Arilyn Martinez Cora: The 2017 Latino Film Market succeeds at providing a unique platform to raise the visibility of up-and-coming Latino filmmakers. LFM 2017 brings film professionals together to collaborate on the distribution of approximately 40+ selected projects within the United States.

What would you expect to experience if you attend the festival this year (2017)?

You can expect a great program filled with outstanding Latino films from Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Peru, Panama, Spain, United States, Canada, United Kingdom -all gathered in one location and ready to increase opportunities for international sales and distribution of films made by Latino filmmakers. Workshops, panel discussions as well as photo and sculpture exhibitions will alternate with the event program. In addition, there will be Q&A sessions with actors, producers, directors, and crew members.

What are the qualifications for the selected films?

We pay attention to the content, duration, the actors’ performance, sound, music, editing, set design, and make up.

Do you think that some films really don’t get a fair shake from film festivals? And if so, why?

I think that a film entering to a film festival is an amazing opportunity to connect with the audience and increase the followers who can help you later to either sell the movie traditionally or through VOD. So rather than looking to see if fair or not, the filmmaker should be ready to understand on what they will like to achieve

What motivates you and your team to do this festival?

Living in New York City for over six years, has given me the opportunity to meet people from all over the world. After attending several Latino events, I realized that many U.S born Latinos (first and second generation) transition themselves into Latinos as a result of their parents passing down their beautiful culture and traditions. The concept of Latino Film Market came from the idea of integrating my expertise in the process of filmmaking and my interest to find ways to preserve and promote the Latin American culture through the showcase of films that would be recognized at a national and international level creating economic development in the United States and Latin American countries.

My team realized that there is no Film Market focused on Latino films in the United States, and we decided to create one to help the up-and-coming filmmakers learn more about the process of filmmaking and distribution.

How has your FilmFreeway submission process been?

The FilmFreeway submission process was amazing. Its website is very easy to be used and when I had a question I looked it up on Google and I was able to proceed quickly. In addition, the website of FilmFreeway is well organized and it is friendly in terms of watching and selecting the films.

Where do you see the festival by 2020?

My team and I envision the festival by 2020 as the leading destination for Latino filmmakers who are eager to network, and acquire the latest knowledge and tools to promote, distribute and sell their short and feature films, documentaries and web series, where the Latino community is included as the main topic. The funds paid by distributors can be used for their future film projects.

We aim to be able to create more opportunities for international sales and distribution of Latino films and we hope to be able to widen the choice of Latino films shown to audiences and provide affordable workshops and educational panels to up-and-coming Latino filmmakers.

What film have you seen the most times in your life?

V for Vendetta, Y tu mamá también, New York Stories, The Notebook, La Guagua Aérea, Amelie, Rocky, and Babel are the films I have seen the most times in my life, I really enjoy how their stories are well developed and the way these movies are shot.

In one sentence, what makes a great film?

A well developed story makes a great film.

How is the film scene in your city?

In New York City, there are film festivals everywhere and the filmmaking industry is almost in every corner.

—-

Interviewer Matthew Toffolo is currently the CEO of the WILDsound FEEDBACK Film & Writing Festival. The festival that showcases 20-50 screenplay and story readings performed by professional actors every month. And the FEEDBACK Monthly Festival held in downtown Toronto, and Los Angeles at least 2 times a month. Go to www.wildsound.ca for more information and to submit your work to the festival.

CUMP is an upcoming independent documentary and film festival drawn from Colleges and Universities that offer Film and Electronic Media studies in East Africa, and the only independent film festival in Nairobi. CUMP shall screen in Nairobi -Kenya and other East African cities and shall premiere local and international films and documentaries.

Contact

Matthew Toffolo: What is your Film Festival succeeding at doing for filmmakers?

Karen Ndumia: My film festival’s focus is on budding film makers who are currently in university and college learning and practicing the art. The core purpose of the festival is to be a home where story tellers gather and engage in a creative space to have fun and also a networking hub.

What would you expect to experience if you attend the festival this year (2017)?

When people attend this festival they will experience purpose. Purpose of them creating stories, telling those stories and understanding their stories and those of others.

What are the qualifications for the selected films?

Being the first edition we haven’t put limited access to the entries however we accepted all shorts and features that have never been screened in any international film festival. Also the films had to be student works.

Do you think that some films really don’t get a fair shake from film festivals? And if so, why?

Yes. Because they are limited to the do’s and dont’s of single event which doesn’t necessarily make them bad films.

What motivates you and your team to do this festival?

We are motivated by the fact that there’s a sense of command in telling my stories. The power of telling your own stories your own way brings out the most authentic version of yourself and there’s no much fulfillment than that in life.

How has your FilmFreeway submission process been?

It was easy, accessible, efficient and linked me to people with fantastic stories who I couldn’t physically meet.I simply loved it.

Where do you see the festival by 2020?

My vision which I feel strongly is to transcend social barriers. I seek to not only have virtual access to those stories and the story tellers but also meet this beautiful film makers come here in Nairobi – Kenya and create more stories with us and take us through their story telling journey.

What film have you seen the most times in your life?

Growing up that should be baby’s day out. But now I can’t stop myself from watching The Last Song directed by Julie Anne Robinson over and over again.

In one sentence, what makes a great film?

An authentic story well told.

How is the film scene in your city?

My city which happens to be Kenya’s capital is called Nairobi derived from a Massai word meaning A PLACE OF COOL WATERS. It is the most dynamic city in the sense that it is culturally diverse hosting multi-ethnic groups, has an ancient touch hence a cultural center & tourist attraction, a recreational center, diplomatic center, residential center with apartments, guest houses and lodges , shopping center with high end malls, an educational center with both local and international school systems, its a well fitted modern hub boasting all manners of modern technologies and a commercial hub that host international business and organizations hence being East Africa’s larger center of business and trade.

From the Festival Director:

My name is Karen. W. Ndumia born and bred in the most beautiful and dynamic country called Kenya. In my entire growing from the age of 6 I have strongly pursued art and especially engaged my oral skills, hence participated in all forms of oral art in church and school until now. I have now grown to find my niche and after completing my high school three years ago I decided I’ll pursue Bachelor’s in Film and Theater arts at the Kenyatta University where I currently study.

With time, I have learnt the need to be relevant in the society by telling the right stories about our truest selves and how we view it through our creative eyes.

I then began to have a constant gut feeling to gather people and tell stories in a creative space. Through this time, trying to figure out how I can get to gather people in a room and have them watch diverse stories told by young people concerning societal norms that we loved and some that we needed to change,that was the birth of the CUMP FILM FESTIVAL.

—-

Interviewer Matthew Toffolo is currently the CEO of the WILDsound FEEDBACK Film & Writing Festival. The festival that showcases 20-50 screenplay and story readings performed by professional actors every month. And the FEEDBACK Monthly Festival held in downtown Toronto, and Los Angeles at least 2 times a month. Go to www.wildsound.ca for more information and to submit your work to the festival.

Woman on Fire follows Brooke Guinan, the first openly transgender firefighter in New York City. A character-driven documentary, the film follows Brooke as she sets out to challenge perceptions of what it means to be transgender in America today.

Woman on Fire follows Brooke Guinan, the first openly transgender firefighter in New York City. At the start of the film, Brooke tells the audience, while looking in the mirror to follow your heart.

Well, Brooke did follow her heart to become a woman, the gender he/she was comfortable with. As a third-generation firefighter, Brooke has a passion for heroism that runs in her blood. Her father George is a respected lieutenant and 9/11 survivor with a 35-year legacy in the FDNY.

The film shows Brooke transitioning from male to female in her father’s workplace, as it poses not only a challenge to a macho profession, but also to the customs of the people she cares about the most – her traditional family.

The film also charts Brooke’s boyfriend of two years, Jim, struggling to come out to his family. A wise-cracking Air Force veteran, Jim still hasn’t told his mother that Brooke is a transwoman. But besides the transgender issue, the film also reveals the life of a firefighter and their sacrifice for society.

once saw a skit of Superman and Batman at an unemployment office. Superman tells Batman that they will never get a job. Why Batman asks? Because no one would hire anyone who wears underpants over their clothes – was the answer. CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS the animated movie takes the joke to another level. The hero only wears underpants!
This last collaboration between Dreamworks and 20th Century Fox (before Dreamworks moves with Universal) is fortunately a huge animated comic success. As the title of the film implies, the story involves lots of goofy absurdity and toilet jokes (there is even a symphony of body fluid noises performed on the school stage in the middle of the film), but who cares as CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS is a very funny movie, almost matching the best of the SHREK films. The comic song “I Love Saturdays” at the film’s stet sets up the mood of the film.

The film is based on the children’s novel series of the same name created in 1997 by Dav Pilkey, who sold the rights to Dreamworks in 2011. The plot follows two imaginative elementary school prankster students, George Beard and Harold Hutchins (Kevin Hart and Thomas Middleditch) who hypnotize using a hypnotic ring from a cereal box, their mean-spirited principal, Mr. Krupp (Ed Helms), into thinking he is Captain Underpants, a hero in comic books George and Harold write together. Mr. Krupp runs all over the place trying to what he thinks he is doing, saving the world. But the story includes a villain, Professor Poopypants (Nikc Kroll) (looking like the child catcher in CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG), the new science teacher who wants to rid the wold of laughter. His assistant is one of George and Harold’s fellow students, a swatter and a rotter called Melvin (Jordan Peele) with an uncanny resemblance to minions in DESPICABLE ME. Yes, as in all animated films, the world needs to be saved – but always for a good cause – as the return of laughter in this story.

There is plenty of laughter in this film, thanks to the goofy antics of the animators, the smart script by Brit Nicholas Stoller and the comedic timing of director David Soren. Writer Stoller directed the very funny NEIGHBOURS, NEIGHBOURS II and FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL and Toronto-own Stoller had proven his animation mettle in TURBO (the animated on snails). Kevin Hart is funny voicing George but the surprise comes from Ed Helms who voices both the principal and Captain Underpants.

The animation is 3D computer animated, with the heads of the characters rounded, similar to THE PEANUTS MOVIE. The characters have a 3D rather than a two dimensional look.

Despite all the toilet humour, the film contains a decent message of genuinely doing good in the world.

There is a fine line between stupidity and goofiness. Animated films often have to tread this fine line between success and failure. CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS succeeds in this respect while another cent animated feature THE LEGO BATMAN failed because it was too manic and incomprehensible. It should be a worthwhile wait for CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS: THE SECOND EPIC MOVIE

On a lonely ship, in the middle of the North Sea, fourteen men work together for a month. Day and night they sail around oilrigs to provide them of supplies. In this world of fellowship, waves, storms and containers, Frans, an Amsterdam sailor, seems to be at his best. However, the longer the journey lasts, the more it becomes apparent that something essential is missing in this male microcosm at sea. A small film about loneliness and the importance of love.

Review by Kierston Drier

CARGO a documentary about love, family and men at sea, will pull on your heart. It follows the 14 men that make up a deep sea water crew, and their time away from their families while out. Gone for long stretches of time, the crew make peace with themselves by reliving their youth, their young loves, talking of their families, their children, their birthdays.

Like any good documentary, the filming team captures moments of the crew where they take no notice of the bulky machine recording their lives. Instead, the camera floats among them like a phantom, seeing the moments they hide from the rest of the world- a birthday shared at sea, a long-lost love, a phone call home to one’s’ children: Daddy will be home soon.

Another remarkable thing about CARGO and to director Marina Meijer’s credit- is the spectacular B-Roll in this piece. Bright colors, remarkable shots and beautiful moments litter this film like gems along the ocean floor. They elevate this piece to a mastery level.

You may never have spent a day at sea, but you will feel the ocean mist on your skin while you watch CARGO.

A two minute animation directed by Jean-Baptiste Aziere, The Ark is a powerful, riveting and emotionally provocative piece. Highly symbolic and deeply moving, it follows a Rhino slowly making its’ way to a dilapidated Christian altar where it bows with it’s final breath, then falls to its’ knees. It gives us no answers, asks us no riddles- it is simply a sharp, dramatic piece that will take your breath away.

You may argue that this is a piece about religion, or a piece about spirituality and the animal kingdom, or that it is about environmentalism, you may even argue it has no deeper meaning that what is visually there. But it cannot be denied- this is a film so hauntingly beautiful and so visually rich that once it begins, it demands your attention. Perhaps that is the most symbolic and meaningful part of the entire piece. In a world run by humanity, where things that not human are often ignored in favor of the things that are, there is not a single person in this film. Yet our hero bows like a praying human being, and dies soon after. You cannot help but be moved at the sight, interpret what you will.

THE ARK is a brave cinematic piece. Short, stunning and impactful, this is a piece that carries itself with beauty and deep meaning.